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Dental Laboratory Technicians - 51-9081.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Ceramist
  • Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech)
  • Dental Ceramist
  • Dental Laboratory Technician (Dental Lab Tech)
  • Dental Technician (Dental Tech)
  • Denture Technician (Denture Tech)
  • Metal Finisher
  • Orthodontic Laboratory Technician (Ortho Lab Tech)
  • Porcelain Technician (Porcelain Tech)
  • Waxer

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Apply porcelain paste or wax over prosthesis frameworks or setups, using brushes and spatulas.
  • Build and shape wax teeth, using small hand instruments and information from observations or dentists' specifications.
  • Create a model of patient's mouth by pouring plaster into a dental impression and allowing plaster to set.
  • Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
  • Fill chipped or low spots in surfaces of devices, using acrylic resins.
  • Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.
  • Melt metals or mix plaster, porcelain, or acrylic pastes and pour materials into molds or over frameworks to form dental prostheses or apparatuses.
  • Mold wax over denture setups to form the full contours of artificial gums.
  • Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
  • Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
  • Prepare wax bite blocks and impression trays for use.
  • Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
  • Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
  • Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
  • Shape and solder wire and metal frames or bands for dental products, using soldering irons and hand tools.
  • Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
  • Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
  • Cast molds of patient anatomies to create medical or dental devices.
  • Construct customized assistive medical or dental devices.
  • Direct operational or production activities.
  • Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces.
  • Inspect medical or dental assistive devices.
  • Instruct workers to use equipment or perform technical procedures.
  • Load items into ovens or furnaces.
  • Measure clients to ensure proper product fit.
  • Melt metal, plastic, or other materials to prepare for production.
  • Mix ingredients to create specific finishes.
  • Place materials into molds.
  • Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
  • Prepare materials for processing.
  • Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
  • Repair medical or dental assistive devices.
  • Shape metal workpieces with hammers or other small hand tools.
  • Solder parts or workpieces.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Dental Assistant (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Craftsman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Journeyman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Apprentice (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Craftsman (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Helper (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Journeyman (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Technician (Advanced) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Technician (Basic) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Technician (Maxillofacial) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Technician, Advanced (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Technician, Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dental Laboratory Technician, Maxillofacial (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dental Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Dental Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dentist (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Advanced Clinical (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Comprehensive (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Dental Materials Science (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, General Clinical (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Hospital Dentistry (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (OMR) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Public Health (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Health Services Management (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Craftsman, Health Information Technology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Journeyman, Health Information Technology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Hospital Corpsman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Medical Administration Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Contour Wire Specialty Denture
  • Dental Ceramist
  • Dental Laboratory Technician
  • Finisher, Denture
  • Orthodontic Technician

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Contour Wire Specialist, Denture
  • Dental Ceramist
  • Dental Ceramist Assistant
  • Dental-Laboratory Technician
  • Dental-Laboratory-Technician Apprentice
  • Denture Waxer
  • Finisher, Denture
  • Orthodontic Band Maker
  • Orthodontic Technician